Stringer - Survey Solutions for Civil3d

Stringer - Behind the Scenes

Procedure - Stringer Program in Civil 3D

Stringer is the main program in this suite of programs. Its interface
allows a number of related functions to be carried out.

Brief Description

The Stringer program is designed to make stringing of survey data easy in the
AutoDesk Civil 3D environment.

The program uses the raw point codes in the drawing for creating polylines,
amending symbol alignments, and creating offsets (both 2D and 3D). The points
can be selected manually, as a point range, or all points. You may also
nominate multiple string codes to a single point, such as when an edge of
bitumen joins to a concrete path.

The codes are interrogated and those with numeric suffixes are
regarded as stringable. With this system points can be strung even if not
provided for in the settings file, Profiles.csv. This file allocates the
layers to be used for the strings. Parameters associated with the points
and strings can be used to enhance the polylines drawn by the program.

Process

Perform the field survey using the normal processes and point description
codes you always use, but adding a set of stringing commands where relevant
for the following features:

Closing the string

Completion of rectangles from 3 points

Tangents, arcs and continuous arcs, or any combination of these

Drawing of a set of perpendicular sides to a shape

Symbol orientation from adjacent point shots,

Template based 2D and 3D offset lines to a string

Download the raw survey data.

Use StringerConnect
to reduce the raw survey data and edit as required

Import the points to Civil 3D directly from StringerConnect

Run Stringer to join all required points in survey
order, creating 2d polylines and adding breaklines to the current surface

Use the advanced point code editing features of Stringer
to make fixing the survey a breeze. Watch the
strings and terrain model dynamically update as you amend field codes

String Parameters

.A Arc. An arc tangential to the previous tangent will
start at that point and passing through the next point on the string. Subsequent
points will be joined by arcs, each co-tangential with the previous arc, until a
.L is issued reverting the string to tangents.

.B# Box. The line joining the start point and end
points of the string is offset by the distance # and joined to the start and end
points. There can be multiple points between the start and end points.

.C Close. Join start point to the end point of the
string.

.F Arc. Start a 3 point arc at that point and passing
through the next 2 points on the string. As with the .A parameter subsequent
points will be joined by arcs each co-tangential with the previous arc until an
.L is issued reverting the string to tangents.

.G# Polygon.
Draw a polygon of # sides between two points.

.L Line. Revert to tangents after using either
.A or
.F

.N Align symbol to next. Where the
Description Keys process draws a block this command will rotate the block so the
symbol is aligned to the next point in the file.

.P Align symbol to previous. Where the
Description Keys process draws a block this command will rotate the block so the
symbol is aligned to the previous point in the file.

.R Rectangle. Draw a rectangle using 3 surveyed
points.

.U Non Contourable. Define the point as non
contourable (must set Point Group to exclude points with Raw Description
matching *.U*)

3D Breaklines

3D breaklines are created by using the vertex coordinates in conjunction with
the level of the point at those coordinates. Arcs are reduced to chords based on
a maximum 25mm arc to chord separation. The default layer for the 3D breaklines
is the Current layer unless a layer is specified in the Profiles.csv
file. There must be Civil 3D Points at all vertices of the polyline.
If enabled in the Numeric.dat file, the software will automatically add
vertices to a 3D polyline, see Numeric.dat for more
information.

Profile Editor

The profile editor enables the user to tell Stringer
which point codes to connect together with 2D and/or 3D polyline and
also whether or not to apply a template. The data is stored in the
profiles csv file, the default
location of which is ..\Stringer\Templates directory. You
may navigate to a new profile csv file (which does not have to be
called profiles.csv), either in the current folder or across a
network. The folder that the profile csv is located in must also
contain the template files (*.tem).

To edit an existing code, select it in the column on the left and
the entry fields to the right will be populated with its data.
Any of these parameters can be altered, if required.

For each Code entry in the Profile, five parameters
can be defined:

2D or 3D POLY - Allows the user to specify whether
the code is strung with a 2D polyline only, 2D and 3D polylines or not strung at all.

2D LAYER NAME - Allows the user to set the layer on which the 2D polylines are drawn.
If left blank then the current layer will be used.

2D TEMPLATE - Allows the user to specify the template
which is applied to the 2D polylines.
Leave blank if no template is required.

3D LAYER NAME - Allows the user to set the layer which the
3D polylines are drawn on. If left blank then the current
layer will be used.

3D TEMPLATE - Allows the user to specify the template that is applied to the
3D polylines. Leave blank if no template is required.

A template file (*.tem) is made up of 4 elements per line:
horizontal offset, vertical offset, 2d layer, 3d layer. You can
have as many lines in a template file as you wish. A typical
template file would look like:

-0.42,-.035,rd_kerb,TO_3d
-0.46,0.11,rd_kerb,TO_3d
-0.57,0.11,rd_kerb,TO_3d
This template is for a Standard Kerb located by the Lip, with the
kerb to the left of the lip. This template file is call KSL_L.tem
(for Kerb Standard Lip to the Left)

Traverse Editor

The traverse editor allows you to take any 2D or 3D polyline and make
adjustments to set up the correct traverse. The adjusted traverse can
be used to graphically relocate the control points that make up the
traverse. These points can then be exported into a CSV file to be used as control points for the balance of the survey.

Use the
button to select a Polyline (2D or 3D). If you select a 3D polyline, additional fields are displayed that show the delta height for the traverse leg and the actual elevation at the vertex of the polyline.
You can name your traverse as required by entering data at the top left
field entry next to
.

To highlight/edit an entry just click on the leg to edit in the table. The cells at the bottom of the form (above showing
133º 29’ 13.6”, 163.3883 metres, etc) can be edited in the cells. As each cell is edited, the traverse is updated on the screen and in the form.

The
button is for accepting the edits to this points. Pressing the
button takes the traverse back to this point.

Use the
button to zoom the current leg to the centre of the screen.

If the
option is toggled on, as a leg becomes current, the display window is
automatically centred on the traverse leg.

The
and
toggles are for how forward legs of the traverse are effected by edits. For example, if you edited the coordinates of leg
4 (highlighted) while the Hold Coordinates is selected, none of the forward
coordinates are altered. If, on the other hand, Hold Bearings/Distances is selected and you shift the current vertex then all forward
coordinates will be moved. Ditto for Elevation. This is important for where you have identified a gross error and all forward stations need to be moved.

Offers cells for entering the actual coordinates of the new vertex. If
Hold Coordinates is true then all forward legs of the traverse are not moved. If
Hold Bearings/Distances is true then all forward legs of the traverse are moved by the coordinate shift. Sets the
Undo Mark to the traverse existing prior to the command.

Offers cells for entering the Bearing and Distance to the new vertex. If
Hold Coordinates is true then all forward legs of the traverse are not moved. If
Hold Bearings/Distances is true then all forward legs of the traverse are moved by the coordinate shift. Sets the
Undo Mark to the traverse existing prior to the command.

Removes the currently highlighted traverse Leg. Sets the
Undo Mark to the traverse existing prior to the command.

Appendix A – Installation

Background

The installation program will give the user the option the change the
installation path but it is advised that the default location be used as Stringer/Reducer
is programmed to read its settings data from
the
C:\Program Files\CADApps\Stringer\Templates directory. The default
location for this software is C:\Program Files\CADApps\...

Stringer can be started from the Stringerc3d menu.

In addition there is an option to copy a practice projects called
StringerTutorial2 to C:\CADApps Training Data\Civil 3D Projects. This project can be deleted with Windows Explorer. There is also a backup copy of this project located in C:\Program
Files\CADApps\CADApps Training Data Resource\Civil 3D Projects.

Loading the menu file:

The menu file should be loaded as part of the installation for Civil
3D 2005. Early versions of the
installation program did not automatically load the menu file, and in some cases
automatic display of the menus may not occur.
In these cases start
Civil 3D and open any drawing.

Type cuiload<Enter>

Select <Browse> and find the file stringerc3d5.mnu
located in C:\Program Files\CADApps\Stringer\Programs

Select <Load>

Use the CUI command arrange and save the menu set up as required for future
convenience.

Licensing

Stringer/Reducer licensing is implemented with Software provided by
FlexLM. The link between the FlexLM Software and
Stringer/Reducer is provided by the files ServerName.txt & prjStringerUtility.exe as well as the licence file itself
CADApps.lic.

Full documentation of aspects of this licensing system are included on
the Installation CD.

Remove the installation

This can be done from:

The Windows Start menu as a sub item of CADApps

Running the Uninstall program uninstxxx.exe from the Stringer Installation directory.

Using the Windows Add/Remove programs procedures

Uninstalling the Stringer program does not uninstall the FlexLM licencing
which may be required for other CADApps software.
If you require this to be removed please contact support@cadapps.com.au for further information

Appendix B - Settings

Settings

Numeric.dat has four lines of data controlling how the stringing occurs.

Profiles.csv holds the data determining the nature of the strings drawn for each point description. See discussion on the Profile Editor below for an easy method
of editing this file.

The files *.TEM are template files. These are used to define the
supplementary strings drawn on relevant point descriptions as defined in the
Profiles.csv file. There can be an unlimited number of
these files.

Treeinfo.dat holds the data used when the Replace
Tree command is used to insert tree symbols.

Numeric.dat

Numeric.dat is located in the ...\stringer\programs directory. It
defines settings used by Stringer as detailed below. The file
contains the following four lines:

Is a single number and is used to allow the
Software to use a referenced number of digits as a point description code. The
default value is 3 whichis the most commonly used digital coding system.

Is a single number that represents the maximum (plan) length before a vertex is
added to a 3D polyline.

Is a single number that is the default value for the tolerance when a
Point Group to Points comparison is done.

Is a yes or no entry that is used to either
enable/disable to addition of vertices to 3D polylines using the value in
line 2 as the maximum length.

Sample of Numeric.dat

330100yes

Profiles.csv

This file is best edited with the Profile Editor,
either from the Stringer Import Menu or by entering PROF
at the command line. The strings are assigned to layers with template files assigned based on the Point code
as defined in the the Profiles csv file. You may nominate the
location of the profile csv file. The folder that the profile csv file is
located in is where the templates must also be located. The default is for the
profile csv file to be called profiles.csv and be located in the Stringer\templates\
folder. You may navigate to a new profile csv file from the Profile Editor
menu. Where the file or template provides for 3D drafting,
3D polylines are drawn and can be readily used as breaklines in digital Terrain models.

This file is a comma separated text file holding 6 data items per line as
follows:

Sample data for a template file

Templates are used to create parallel polylines to the surveyed line, whether
as 2D drafting lines or as 3D terrain modelling breaklines. The template files
must have the file extension TEM and must be placed in the
...\stringer\templates directory.

Treeinfo.dat

Treeinfo.dat is located in the ..\Stringer directory. This file
is a comma separated file containing details of tree symbols to be
inserted into your project, each line has 5 data items as follows:

Code to look for, you can have multiple codes. For example: as
shown below, numeric code users may use 20700 and 21000 for different
trees while Alpha code users might use TR.

Symbol to use if no parameter is given, or only one parameter is given.
For example: TR or TR 4 would insert the symbol VE_TREE at a scale 1 or
scale 4 respectively (referring to example below).

Symbol to use for the first parameter if 2 or 3 parameters are given.

Symbol to use for the second parameter if 2 or 3 parameters are given.
For example: TR 0.3 4 would insert the symbol VE_TRUNK at scale 0.3 and
VE_SPREAD at scale 4 (referring to example below)

Symbol to use for the third parameter if 3 parameters are given.
For example: TR 0.3 4 6 would insert the symbol VE_TRUNK at scale 0.3,
VE_SPREAD at scale 4 and VE_TREE_3D with XY scale of 4 and Z scale of 6.